WHY Gorgeous lunch salads and very good dinnertime pastas.

WHAT Run by hometown girl Gale Kohl and her husband, Rene Chila, Gale’s features a talented Italian chef, warm atmosphere and professional wait staff. Favorite dishes include mussels with white wine and garlic, caprese salad, Caesar salad and rosemary lamb chops. But for the best eating, check out the specials menu; the salads are particularly excellent.

WHO Pasadena’s connected people: politicians, volunteers, community leaders.